Why Governors Should Not Be Called Chief Security Officers of Their States

State governors are often described as the Chief Security Officers of their states, but the Constitution gives them limited control over the security agencies operating there. Their core role is executive: setting state policy, coordinating commissioners and managing state government affairs. Under Section 215(4) of the 1999 Constitution, a governor may give lawful directions to the Commissioner of Police on public safety and order. However, this does not give the governor full operational command of the police, including the power to appoint, discipline or remove police commissioners. Military formations and other federal security agencies also take instructions through their own command structures. This limitation has repeatedly been raised by governors during major security incidents, including the October 2020 Lekki toll gate crisis. If governors cannot fully direct the security architecture within their states, should they still be called Chief Security Officers? The title may remain political convention, but meaningful responsibility for state security would require stronger constitutional powers for governors or a broader reform of Nigeria’s policing structure.

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